Designed to accommodate all types of entertainment (rock to
ballet to sport) it was, when built, the largest enclosed space ever built
in Australia.
Its 1700 tonne roof, with trusses spanning in 100m x 85m, was supported on a
massive concrete ring-beam circling the auditorium, and born on a series of
tall blade-like concrete columns.Below, the wrap-around foyers are contained within the crisply
detailed box-like minimalist glazed section. Inaugurated in mid-1983 its
board shuttered bare concrete- the recognised badge of modernity for many
70s and 80s architects- unfortunately rapidly discoloured and gave the
building a dismal aspect. The concrete was covered by aluminium composite
panels in the early nineties.

Above- the corner with the McDonalds, and on the site previously.

It opened in May 1983, to replace Sydney Stadium, which had been
demolished in 1970 to make way for the Eastern Suburbs railway line and
has hosted concerts and sport events for 27 million people.

Over the past 32 years, 4,000 concerts have been held at the venue which
holds 13,000 people.